Super Summarization!
Rationale:
When we can read fluently, not only can we read faster and with more emotion, but we can also understand what we read better. That is called reading comprehension! One way we can show how well we understand what we read is by summarizing. About-point is an effective method that we can use for summarization. The method asks two important questions. The first is: What is the text about? The answer to this question will be the subject of the topic sentence. The second is: What is the main point the writer is making about that topic? The answer to this will be the predicate of the topic sentence. While the first question identifies the topic, the second question dives deeper into the points made about the topic. Since the author can make several points, the reader has to “subordinate” the points. This is an umbrella term that identifies all the main points the author is trying to make. Using these two questions, the reader can create a topic sentence from any text.
Materials:
Individual copies of Superheroes text for each student (packet linked below); paper and writing utensil; summarization checklist; comprehension quiz
Procedures:
1. Say: “Summarizing is when we can recall the most important points the author makes in a text after we read. It would be too hard and take too long for us to every word from the whole story, so we use summarization strategies to help us pick out the important parts to remember. One of these strategies is called about-point. To use about-point, you need to answer two questions. The first question is: ‘What is the text about?’ The second question is: ‘What is the main point the writer is making about that topic?’ To answer this question, you need to think of an umbrella term that describes all of the important thing that the writer says.”
2. Say: “I am going to show you how to use the about-point strategy in a paragraph about Superheroes. Have you ever seen a superhero movie or read a superhero book? What do superheroes have in common? Well, we are going to answer that today!”
3. Before we read, let’s talk about an important vocabulary word in the text: alliance. An alliance is when two people team up to accomplish a goal. An alliance is not when two people are fighting or do not like each other. For example, “France and Scotland formed and alliance during the war because they both wanted to defeat Germany.”
4. (Pass out the article and read the first paragraph out loud.) “Now let's practice the about-point strategy. Here is the first paragraph:
‘All superheroes have a lot in common. First of all, they usually have a hometown, city, or area that they protect. There are usually conflicts with governing forces. For example, both Batman and Spiderman were despised by the newspapers and some government officials. This would swing public opinion about them.’
This paragraph is about superheroes, but what are the important points that the author wants to make? All superheroes have a lot in common; They have an area that they are trying to protect; However, there are usually conflicts with the governing forces in the area that are protecting. If I put all of these points together, I can make a topic sentence: All superheroes protect an area, however there is usually conflict with the government officials in that area.”
5. Say: “Now I want you to use the about-point strategy on the second paragraph:
‘Superheroes usually go undercover in public to blend in society. This gives them a place in the world and allows them to have more than just a superhero life. It also makes a great story because it sets up conflict with personal and professional lives.’
What is this paragraph about? (Wait for response.) Yes, superheroes. What kinds of things does the author say about superheroes? (Wait for response.) Correct, they go undercover. Why do they need to go undercover? (Wait for response.) The author says it allows them to live a normal life and it creates a great story. How could we put all of those points together in one sentence? Let’s start out sentence with “Superheroes…” (Wait for response.) Superheroes go undercover so that they can live a normal life, and it also creates a great story with conflict.”
6. Say: “Now I want you to finish reading the article by yourself. Use the about-point strategy to make your own topic sentences for each paragraph. Write the topic sentences you come up with on your paper under the other two that we did together. When you are done reading and writing topic sentences, you will have a good summary of the article so you can remember the important facts about superheroes. Remember, when summarizing, you only pick out meaningful information and not examples or trivia. Also remember to write your summary in your own words. We will have a quiz to check for comprehension once everyone has finished writing.”
7. Assessment: Collect each student’s papers and evaluate the summarization using the following checklist:
___ Collected important, meaningful information
___ Ignored trivia and examples in summary
___ Significantly reduced the text from the original
___ Sentences brought ideas together from each paragraph
___ Sentences organized coherently into essay form
8. Pass out the quiz to assess student’s reading comprehension.
Quiz:
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Do all superheroes have a lot in common with each other?
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What kind of relationship do superheroes usually have with the area’s governing forces?
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Why do superheroes go undercover in public?
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What kind of crisis do authors create in superhero stories?
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What does it mean to go “solo”?
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Who do superheroes battle?
References:
No author, Superheroes article.
Bruce Murry, Using About-Point to Awaken the Main Idea. https://murraba.wixsite.com/readinglessons/reading-to-learn
Mary Clai Chase, Super Summarizer
